The 12 Best Open World Games To Explore in 2024

Open world games are known for their dynamic, vast environments that prioritize player exploration and decision-making. The best titles in this genre ensure that your decisions impact the story or future non-player character (NPC) interactions you have or give you free reign of the world and the ability to explore.

As one of the most popular game genres, many open world titles have been released in the past two decades. This post covers the best open world games for exploration and freedom of play style, plus what to look for in an open world game. 

The Best Open World Games

1. Elden Ring

• Genre: Action role-playing 
• Release date: February 25, 2022
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
• Gameplay features: Open world exploration, interconnected dungeons, fast-paced combat, horseback traversal
• Developer: FromSoftware
• Pricing: $59.99 on PC, $69.99 on console
• Rating: 96/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Fans of challenging combat, deep lore, and atmospheric exploration

Elden Ring is one of the most popular video games in 2024 and combines the world-building genius of George R.R. Martin, the creator of A Song of Ice and Fire, with the challenging gameplay of FromSoftware games. The result is a standout open world experience filled with difficult mobs, unlockable secrets, and a compelling, non-linear narrative.

If you’ve ever played Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, then you already know some of what to expect from Elden Ring. Elden Ring presents plenty of deaths and challenges, and a world that keeps you on your toes. Unlike other open world games, Elden Ring doesn’t restrict the areas you can visit; the entire world is accessible from the get-go. If you enjoy being in full control of the way your story plays out in games, Elden Ring is for you — just make sure you’re ready for the challenge.

2. Horizon Forbidden West

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Release date: February 18, 2022
• Platforms: PlayStation, Windows
• Gameplay features: Strategic combat, crafting, machine taming, environmental puzzles
• Developer: Guerilla Games
• Pricing: $59.99 on PC, $69.99 on console
• Rating: 89/100 on MetacriticBest for: Players who enjoy rich storytelling and strategic combat

Riding off the coattails of a popular first entry, Horizon Forbidden West builds upon the series with new abilities, gear, areas, and a more refined experience. While you’d be better served lore-wise by playing Horizon Zero Dawn before heading into Forbidden West, it isn’t necessary, as much of the first game’s significant narrative points are recapped early on in the game.

Forbidden West has dynamic NPC behaviors, with characters following their own routines depending on the time. You’ll find plenty of immersive side quests around the world, some of which tie into the main quest, giving you more incentive to play one of the best open world games available.

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Genre: Adventure role-playing
• Release date: May 18, 2015
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
• Gameplay features: Narrative-driven quests, rich character interactions, swordplay, magic, and alchemy
• Developer: CD Projekt
• Pricing: $39.99 on PC, $29.99 on console
• Rating: 92/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: RPG lovers who value deep storytelling, moral choices, and immersive world-building

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sees you attacking demons, ghouls, and other monsters across the Continent as Geralt of Rivia as a monster slayer and all-around iconic protagonist. With a rich story, vast world, and compelling characters dotted around the land, you can easily spend hours exploring all this RPG game has to offer.

The game has decent mechanics, with abilities and usual hack-and-slash mechanics that never get old. The NPCs you can visit around the world have unique, realistic backstories, providing interesting interactions you stumble across between missions. NPCs also have dynamic reactions to actions you take throughout the game. The branching conversation mechanic means that your dialogue can lead to different outcomes, adding extra replayability to the game if you do multiple playthroughs.

The Witcher 3 is highly regarded as one of the best open world games of all time, and is well worth trying if you’re looking for an immersive open-worlder to sink your teeth into.

4. Grand Theft Auto V

• Genre: Action-adventure, shooter
• Release date: September 17, 2013
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
• Gameplay features: Immersive city and countryside exploration, heists, vehicle combat, shooting, and multiplayer (GTA Online)
• Developer: Rockstar North
• Pricing: $19.99
• Rating: 97/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Players seeking a blend of action, story-driven heists, and multiplayer chaos

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V lets you navigate a sprawling, chaotic city rife with crime that is the series’ most vibrant yet. Taking you back to Los Santos for the first time since 2004’s GTA San Andreas, you’ll experience the city and the story through three unique flawed characters.

GTA V builds upon the foundations established in the previous games, with plenty of vehicles, weapons, and even properties to purchase. On newer-generation consoles such as the PS4/Xbox One or PS5/ Xbox Series X, you can even switch the camera to first-person, a first for the GTA series.

While you’ll have plenty to do in GTA V, you also have the GTA Online mode, one of the best MMO games, where you can pull off heists, races, and other activities with other players around the world. Commonly cited as one of the greatest games of all time, GTA V is a must if you’re a fan of open world action games.

5. Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Genre: Action-adventure 
• Release date: May 12, 2023
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch
• Gameplay features: Vast exploration across skies and land, crafting, weapon fusion, environmental puzzles
• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Pricing: $63.95
• Rating: 96/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Fans of open-ended exploration, environmental puzzles, and creative problem-solving

The Legend of Zelda series needs no introduction. A staple in the overall gaming industry, it's one of the most popular franchises of all time with a world you’re guaranteed to get lost in. Tears of the Kingdom followed up on the hugely successful Breath of the Wild, offering an expanded world, new powers, new mechanics, and a new, compelling story that ties in well with previous ones.

In Tears of the Kingdom, you have two new areas in addition to the typical Hyrule: the Sky and the Depths. Both of these new areas offer new puzzles, treasures, and enemy types. You can traverse this new territory by climbing, paragliding, or horseback riding. If you like open world games with a family-friendly, carefree art style, then you’ll love Tears of the Kingdom.

6. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

• Genre: Action-adventure
• Release date: October 20, 2023
• Platforms: PlayStation
• Gameplay features: Fast-paced, acrobatic web-swinging, dynamic combat
• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Pricing: $69.99
• Rating: 90/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Superhero fans who enjoy fast traversal, fluid combat, and immersive city environments

Marvel’s Spider-Man was extremely well-received, providing the most immersive webslinging experience yet. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds upon this, with a story featuring fan favorite villain Venom, and an open world that encapsulates the vibe of New York City in a way no other game has. In Spider-Man 2, you can switch between Peter Parker or Miles Morales as you websling around the city, providing a distinct superhero experience that feels vaguely similar to GTA V with its switchable protagonists and immersive U.S. city setting.

NPCs react to events of the series and seeing Spider-Man webslinging past them much more than they did in the previous entry, adding to the immersive element. There are also a ton of side quests focusing on individual NPCs and helping them with their problems, creating a more compelling world that feels full of both friends and foes. Spider-Man 2 is one of the best action games and is absolutely a must-pick if you’re into superheroes and open world games.

7. Fallout 3

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Release date: October 28, 2008
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Amazon Luna
• Gameplay features: Post-apocalyptic open world exploration, scavenging, faction-based storytelling
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Pricing: $9.99
• Rating: 93/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Players who enjoy post-apocalyptic worlds, strategic combat, and narrative-driven exploration

Fallout 3 is revered as a classic among gamers, even those who don’t typically play open world games. Considered the best entry in the series by Fallout fans, Fallout 3 offers an expansive post-apocalypse world full of ghouls, human factions, and other radiated creatures for you to come across as you explore the U.S.

The mechanics are a little dated compared to the other open world games on this list, but if you’re familiar with Bethesda games, then it shouldn’t prove too much of an issue. There are plenty of places on the map to explore in Fallout 3. Random encounters with monsters keep you on your toes and make the world feel alive, making the game stand out — even over a decade later.

8. Terraria

• Genre: Action-adventure, sandbox
• Release date: May 16, 2011
• Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, macOS, iOS, Xbox
• Gameplay features: Resource gathering, crafting, combat against bosses
• Developer: Re-Logic
• Pricing: $9.99
• Rating: 81/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Fans of crafting, resource management, and creative freedom

Terraria is a 2D answer to Minecraft and is perfect to play with your friends or solo. In this charming sandbox open world game, you can explore, build, craft, mine, and survive the world as you build up your base. One of the best PC games of all time, Terraria is well worth trying out.

Due to the game’s procedurally generated worlds, you can expect a dynamic, distinct experience with every world you create. Specific resources can be found in certain areas of the map, encouraging you to explore further than just the small area around your base.

Terraria is distinct for its 2D pixel art style, which stands out from all of the 3D, highly defined graphics present in other open world games. Terraria offers great replayability due to its procedurally generated structure. If you like modded versions of games, then you’ll enjoy diving into the thousands of mod creations from other players that exist for Terraria. 

9. Red Dead Redemption 2

• Genre: Action-adventure
• Release date: October 26, 2018
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Google Stadia, Windows
• Gameplay features: Realistic wildlife, horseback riding, hunting, heists
• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Pricing: $23.99
• Rating: 97/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Players seeking a deep, immersive experience with strong storytelling in a Wild West setting

Red Dead Redemption (RDR) 2’s long-awaited release did not disappoint, with a rich early 20th-century world full of animals, side characters, and items to find. Its story, taking place before the original game, provides a welcome prelude to the events of the predecessor. RDR 2 takes place across five fictitious U.S. states, with you and the van der Linde gang moving across multiple camping spots as you try to evade U.S. law enforcement and survive a harsh winter.

The game’s NPCs have daily routines, such as going to the saloon after work, which results in towns feeling different depending on the time of day. Some NPCs will remember previous encounters with you, and will react differently to your greetings depending on your reputation, how you greeted them, and your current appearance. In short, RDR 2 has a standout story, compelling characters, and a rich open world that's a masterclass in making you feel part of it. 

10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Release date: November 11, 2011
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Nintendo Switch
• Gameplay features: First-person and third-person combat, dragons, magic, dungeon exploration
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Pricing: $39.99
• Rating: 96/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Fantasy lovers who enjoy deep role-playing, epic world-building, and limitless exploration

Skyrim offers an intricately detailed fantasy realm where you shape your destiny with crucial decisions that impact the world. The fifth main entry of the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim is one of the best medieval games, praised by critics and players alike for its compelling narrative, iconic dialogue, and freedom of choice over your character build and play style.

Choose your path, from a High Elf wizard to a fearsome Nord warrior, in your epic quest against dragons, vampires, and either the Stormcloaks or Imperials (depending on your choices in the civil war). Skyrim offers a plethora of caves, dungeons, and encampments to stumble across as you traverse the land. But beware — you can get randomly attacked at any point by giants, bandits, and fearsome dragons. If you’re into open worlds with a fantasy element, then Skyrim is a perfect choice.

11. Starfield

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Release date: September 6, 2023
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox
• Gameplay features: Space exploration, deep character customization, spaceship building, resource gathering
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Pricing: $69.99
• Rating: 83/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Players seeking interstellar exploration, space combat, and open-ended role-playing

Ever wondered what a Bethesda game in a space-faring setting looks like? Starfield is the result. Starfield sees you explore the Milky Way galaxy in search of mysterious artifacts located across fictional and nonfictional planets.

Starfield’s procedurally generated nature means you'll have a truly dynamic experience, with over 1,000 worlds you can land on across the galaxy. You can also bring on NPC companions to assist you on your quests, with different abilities and class builds to complement the build you go for. Starfield brings the usual Bethesda charm of dialogue and lore-building with a developer-first sci-fi backdrop. 

12. Dragon's Dogma 2

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Release date: March 22, 2024
• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, GeForce Now, Windows
• Gameplay features: Real-time action combat, pawn system for companion control, epic monsters
• Developer: Capcom
• Pricing: $69.99
• Rating: 86/100 on Metacritic
• Best for: Fans of action-heavy RPGs with deep combat mechanics and large-scale monster battles

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a newer game compared to other entries on the list, and with it comes some of the best graphics, mechanics, and dynamic AI you can find. In Dragon’s Dogma 2, you’ll be faced with exploring the world, taking on quests for the various characters you meet, and becoming embroiled in a conflict between two kingdoms, all while preparing to fight a dragon that has marked you for death.

You'll be assisted by Pawns, NPC companions that adjust their behavior based on your combat style. Pawns also observe your decisions during quests and how you explore the world, then offer advice regarding your next move. This feature was praised in the original game, and in the sequel it has been improved massively, providing an even more dynamic experience. The open world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is different for every player due to random interactions with NPCs and the Pawn system, guaranteeing that your experience feels individualized and distinct from others. 

The Best Open World Games at a Glance

Pressed for time but want to find the next best open world game for you to play? Check out this handy table:

What To Look For in the Best Open World Games

When selecting the best open world games, consider these key factors:

• Gameplay mechanics: Look for games with engaging exploration, combat, crafting, and dynamic interaction within an expansive world.
• Story quality: Choose games that offer compelling narratives with captivating characters and immersive worlds.
• World design: Opt for titles with a well-crafted open world featuring diverse environments, dynamic events, and meaningful activities.
• Replayability: Seek out games with a variety of quests, side activities, and different outcomes that encourage you to revisit the game.
• Community: Choose games with a supportive community where players share tips, strategies, and experiences.
• Performance and stability: Look for games known for smooth performance and stability, ensuring a seamless experience.

There have never been more choices available for open world games. Ironically, this can make it harder to choose one to play. Our list should help you narrow it down to just a few great titles.

Open World Games FAQ

There’s a lot to consider before jumping into your next open world game. We answer the most common questions below.

What Defines an Open World Game?

An open world game is characterized by large, immersive worlds you explore freely without being restricted to linear paths. You’ll have various activities, quests, and environments to explore at your own pace. 

What Are Some Key Features in the Best Open World Games?

Look for a richly detailed game world, engaging activities, and dynamic environments with day-night cycles and weather effects. High-quality graphics, immersive sound design, and responsive gameplay mechanics also contribute to an exceptional open world.

Do the Best Open World Games Require High-End Hardware?

While high-end hardware delivers the best graphics and performance, there are also excellent open world games optimized for a range of systems. The requirements vary depending on the game’s complexity and graphical demands. You can often adjust settings to match your PC hardware capabilities, and some games offer options for lower-end systems without sacrificing too much of the experience.